Senators Make Major Goaltending Announcement Ahead of Season Opener

The Ottawa Senators will begin their march toward a potential playoff return when they open the 2024-25 NHL season against the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Although the franchise hasn't made a postseason appearance since 2017, there's a sense of home in town after the Senators acquired former Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Linus Ullmark from the Boston Bruins back in June.

Ullmark is the best goaltender that the Senators have rostered in years, but whether or not he's a long-term solution has been up in the air. After all, the veteran puck-stopper only has one year left on his current contract, leaving time to tell if he'd stick around beyond the current campaign.

But with just over 24 hours until the Senators host the Stanley Cup Champions, the 31-year-old goalie's future in Ottawa is clearer than ever.

TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that the Senators have signed Ullmark to a four-year, $33 million extension . The contract's $8.25 million average annual value (AAV) is the same as the new contract that former Bruins teammate Jeremy Swayman just signed .

Even though Ullmark has yet to make his Senators debut, signing him to a long-term deal was an obvious move. Outside of Craig Anderson's run from 2011 to 2020, Ottawa has struggled to find a No. 1 netminder.

Meanwhile, Ullmark has established himself as one of the NHL's best goaltenders in the last two seasons. He made 89 appearances with the Bruins during that time, going 62-16-8 while playing to a .927 save percentage (SV%), 2.20 goals-against average (GAA) and four shutout victories.

Even though it can take a player some time to adjust to a new city, Ullmark is already making himself comfortable in Ottawa. He bought a house in the city just two months after being traded and already sees a bright future with his teammates.

"I think we’re in a good position of creating something very positive in Ottawa," Ullmark told The Athletic's Julian McKenzie on Monday . "I’m looking forward to keep building it and hopefully be a very positive change in the organization."

Ullmark has the opportunity to showcase how he can be a positive change when the Senators take on the Panthers. The defending Stanley Cup Champions opened the 2024-25 season with a 6-4 win over Ullmark's former Bruins on Tuesday.

Related: Senators Announce Final Decision on Rookie Defenseman Days Before NHL Season